ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 3 May 1911, Page 60

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

"ROTORUA” IMMIGRAS i.CATED. LONDON, March 17. Captain Sutcliffe, of the Rotorua, was very indignant yesterday, when informed of the allegations made against the women immigrants on the previous voyage by one of the passengers, Mr. S. Smith, an officer of the Bradford Corporation. Mr. Smith, in an interview which appeared in the “Lyttelton Times” on January 25, made grave reflections on the character of some of the women immigrants w;ho were going out to domestic service in New Zealand, and accused them of disorderly behaviour on the voyage. These allegations were emphatically repudiated yesterday by Captain Sutcliffe and his officers on the Rotorua, and also by the stewardesses. “I have never seen a better-behaved lot of women on board ship,” remarked one of the stewardesses in reference to the female immigrants who went out on the previous voyage. The High Commissioner for New Zealand had inquiries made on board regarding Mr. Smith’s charges, and satisfied himself that they were without foundation. “It is unfortunate,” he said to me, “that such allegations should have been published

on the ex parte statement of a passenger.” The Rotorua, which left London yea, Mrday for New Zealand, M taking jgf steerage passengers, of whom 5C art anmigrants at reduced fares. MAORI DANCERS BARRED, i j A difficulty has arisen this week rsgarding the proposed appearance of Maggie Papakura's troupe of Maori dancers at the Festival of Empire. Mi*. George Bull, the London agent for the troupe, which is now on its way to London, had arranged for them to take pari in the New Zealand scene of the Pageant of London at the Festival of Empire, and to give exhibitions there of their songs and dances. But the Colonial Office, which has considerable influence in Festival of Empire matters, has raised objections to the Maoris appearing. It points out that coloured from the Crown Colonies are forbidden to appear at exhibitions in this country —a prohibition which arose out of thd scandals connected with the Zulu village at a London exhibition some years ago. The Colonial Office cannot forbid the appearance of the Maoris, but it, has sufficient influence over the Festival to render it unlikely that thq Maoris will take part unless the official objection is withdrawn. The High Commissioner for New Zealand is taking the matter up, and endeavouring to persuade the Colonial Of* fice to lend its sanction to the appearance of the Maoris at the Festival. N<J doubt he will point out that the Maoris should not be classed as savages, and that they are, in point of fact, On a dif* ferent plane altogether from the coloured races which the Colonial Office had in mind when its ban was placed on native exhibitions. There is a keen demand in London jusfi ■now for Maori troupes. The Festival of Empire Council are anxious to havd Maggie Papakura’s company. Mr. Imrd Kiralfy, of the White City, also wants to get a Maori troupe for his Corona* tion Exhibition, and there is a demand! for yet a third troupe for the music* halls here. It is surprising at this time of day tai find the Colonial Office classing tha Maoris with natives from the Crown Colonies and protectorates. The Colonial Office memory is evident;* ly a short one. Surely it has not fort gotten that at the time of last Corona* tion the New Zealand and Australian troops threatened to march out of camp! at Alexandra Palace if the Maori eon*

Hwi VBM «—(ißHod to ■■ KVa* Office waatod tkem to to—ia the UM lines aa the Hauaaaa from West Africa aad other coloured troop*. Even |h« Australians, with all their strong rasa prejudice, do not dream of putting |hs Maoris on the same footing with (coloured races. It looks as though the Colonial Office has blundered again into one of the mistakes of the ‘"bad old days” of Downing-street.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN PAGEANT. ‘A committee of New Zealanders, appointed to arrange for the New Zealand scene in the Pageant at the Festival of Empire, held its first meeting this week at the Royal Colonial Institute. The committee includes the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Sir Wm. Haß-Jones), Mr. T. E. Donne, Mr. Moss Davis, Dr. Colquhoun, Dr. Coleridge Farr, Lady Hall-Jones, Mr. C. Wray PalHser, Dr. T. W. Parkinson, Dr. Bernard Myers, Mr. R. L. Bealey, Mr. Boys, Mr. T. H. Hamer, Mr. Guy Scholefield, Mr. J. P. Whitelaw, Sir Guy Fetherston, Dr. Angus McNab, Mr. J. Wilson Potter, and Captain McKellar Wix. At the first meeting the following names were added to the committeelist:—Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, Dr. And Mrs. Findlay, Sir Wm. Russell, Lady Stout, Mr. John Hastie, Mr. J. Cathcart KVason, M.P., Dr. W. H. Chapple, M.P., I*dy Bendel (daughter of Governor Hobson), Mrs. Seddon, and Miss A .Whitelaw, M.A.

, Mr. Frank Lascelles, the Pageant Master, explained to the committee that New Zealanders and people interested in the Dominion were wanted to take part in the Empire section of the Pageant of London. The New Zealand scene will represent the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and it is hoped that the Maori troupe of dancers, now on their way to London, will yet appear in the scene. Between two and three hundred European New Zealanders will also be required, partly for this scene and partly for the grand finale of the Pageant, where the whole British Empire is represented by an army of 15,000 performers. Among the many New Zealanders who propose to visit London this suminer there should be little difficulty in finding volunteers to take part in this great pageant of Empire. There will be performances twice a flay during June and part of July, but Oversea performers need not necessarattend every performance. On the other hand, there will be many privileges for those visitors from overseas who take part in the Festival. jThey will have the free use of a splendid club-house adjoining the Crystal Palace —Sir Joseph Paxton’s house, Which has been taken over and refurnished by the Council of the Festival for the use of the Colonial visitors. They will be taken excursions about the country, and invited to garden parties nnd entertainments at great houses like Blenheim and Knebworth. No effort will be spared to make them feel that London is really anxious to be hospitable to them, and make them feel at home. “LAND OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY.” Turning aside for the while from “Votes for Women” and the temperance cause, Lady Stout lectured at the Lyceum Ladies* Club on Tuesday on the history bf New Zealand. The lecture was illustrated with limelight views. ‘"The compact that was agreed to In the Treaty of Waitangi,” said Lady Stout In the course of her historical sketch, “has not been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Maoris in the distribution and occupancy of Maori lands, nor has the prohibition of intoxicating drink in their kalngas, which the great chiefs in their (wisdom insisted on, been honourably carried out by our people.” But the near future, she added, will see a fair and just conclusion to the long pending Maori land legislation. Speaking of the equality which women undergraduates enjoy with the men at the New Zealand University colleges, Lady Stout remarked: “University life in New Zealand presents many pleasant phases as well as educational facilities. For instance, no less than seven engagements took place at Victoria College during last session. The men greet the girl graduates with unstinted ana enthusiastic applause and present the recipients of degrees with floral tributes on Capping Day. There is no jealousy or sex-an tagonism in New Zealand either in college or any other competition between Ma and women.”

“Land of Faith, Hope, and Charity” la Lady Stout’s description of New Zealand —Hope, aa shown by the early pioneers; Faith in the unlimited poaaibiliUe of the future; and Charity, in its meaning of love and consideration for the weak, the helpless and the unfortunate, which has inspired the humanitarian legislation of the Dominion. AN IMPERIAL COUNCIL Commenting on Sir Joseph Ward - * speech in Sydney in favour of an Imperial Council or Parliament, the “Times” of March 15th says:— “The Imperial sentiment Is strong everywhere, and though the time may not yet be generally recognised as ripe for such comprehensive schemes as Sir Joseph Ward sketches, there is the strongest sympathy with his aims. The matter is engaging attention eVen at Home, notwithstanding Parliamentary distractions. A hundred signatures of members of Parliament of all parties have been obtained to a memorial urging the need for the establishment of a permanent representative body with advisory powers, to give continuous attention to matters affecting the Empire and the relations between its parts. Such a body would at least make the Empire articulate, would bring its different parts into fruitful communication, and would gradually find some common denominator for the diverse policies dictates to the Dominions by diverse conditions. New Zealand is going to bring the subject before the Imperial Conference in May, and we heartily wish her success.” LAUNCH OF A P. AND O. LINER. The Medina, one of the two new steamers of the “M” class now building for the P. and O. Company, was successfully launched on Tuesday from Messrs. Caird and Co’s, yard at Greenock. The naming ceremony was performed by Lady Alice Shaw-Stewart. The completion of this ship and her sister, the Majola, will bring the P. and O. Company’s “M” class of steamers to a total of ten. The two new vessels are designed for the company’s India, China, and Australia mail and passenger services, and will probably make their maiden trips in November to India.